PRESS INFORMATION | RINGHOTELS e.V. München

Susanne Weiss

CEO and Member of the Board of Ringhotels:

Susanne Weiss at the helm of the hotel cooperation since July 2007 –
Future course set to achieve with high quality and web strategy

To structure the future with Ringhotels – this is the stated aim of Susanne Weiss. Since July 2007 the industry expert, who has garnered many years of management experience within the international hotel industry, has been the CEO and Member of the Board of Ringhotels e.V. And she has certainly made her mark since then. Susanne Weiss is convinced that Ringhotels, with their focus on gastronomy and quality, score high marks not only amongst their guests but also by means of their clear profile in the market place.

The Ringhotels brand, which has always been synonymous with the unison of trend and tradition with warm hospitality, will continue to be developed and the brand recognition further increased. To this end, the association’s branding has been modernized and enhanced by means of a claim campaign: ‘because we care for you’ is the new corporate credo. “Because the Ringhotels association incorporates active members who in their own hotels combine professionalism with heartfelt hospitality, this is what we want to emphasize in our motto”, says Susanne Weiss.

Formulated in collaboration with the advisory board, the ‘Vision 2020’ corporate strategy is followed with determination. The strategic focus is upon the development and assurance of the quality standards plus a greater emphasis on communication and generating bookings via the internet. Ringhotels aims to achieve qualitative growth in the three- to four-star hotel segment, and only hotels which satisfy the Ringhotels criteria will be accepted into the association. Henceforth this will also be subject to a Quality Check. “Because in many instances, being good is just not enough. Specifically with regard to quality, we have to always be on top of our game and ensure that we are continuously improving”, says Susanne Weiss.

Emphasis is also being placed upon increasing the association’s internet presence. In this regard, Ringhotels is staying abreast of current developments, based upon the prognosis that by 2020, 80 percent of all bookings will be done via the internet. A hotel evaluation module is also integrated. “Nowadays these are the mechanisms required by the market, which in turn directs demand. This is why it is essential for us to be on the frontline here, too”, says Susanne Weiss.

By focusing on multiplicators in the market and implementing dynamic pricing, the sales drive is set to be invigorated. Thus, Susanne Weiss and sales director, Ralf Schibelius, are determined to achieve growth in the business-to-business segment. With a stronger focus on intermediaries in the market, they intend to expand activities within the seminar sector for conferences and events. The company will strive to achieve an increase in its share of the ‘arranged travel’ market from 40% to 60% within the coming years.

Susanne Weiss aims to set a new course, giving due regard to current developments and in keeping with the motto, ‘because we care for you’. This is and will remain the most important goal for Ringhotels. It is all about recognizing the guests’ wishes and requirements and offering them reliable quality standards and caring service. Conversely, the same service promise applies to the association‘s member hotels. “The Ringhotels association aims to provide its member hotels with a professional and all-encompassing range of services at value-for-money rates”: these are the goals which management has clearly within its sights.

Susanne Weiss (47) is an expert in the field of hotel sales. She was sales director and regional sales director for various Dorint Hotels, as city office manager of Accor Hotellerie Deutschland GmbH, she was responsible for the pilot multi-brand sales project in Nuremberg, and was then transferred to the corporate head office in Munich as Key Account Manager and Director Key Account Management and High Distribution. Prior to taking on the position of Director Global Sales Germany, Austria and Switzerland at the Rezidor Hotel Group, as Director Corporate Sales Accor Dorint Smart GmbH Susanne Weiss was responsible for Corporate Key Acount Sales. A native of Wetzlar, in 1982 Susanne Weiss started her career in the hotel business. After completing her apprenticeship as a hotel specialist, she earned a business studies degree with a specialization in tourism/hotel administration. After gathering experience abroad in Mexico, her career path led her back to Germany.

The Ringhotels association was founded in 1973 and today incorporates about 130 member hotels in the four- and superior three-star categories in Germany. The ‘German Castles’ collection includes historical manor houses and castles. Professional conference hotels and family-friendly resorts, modern wellness oases and city hotels catering for all sorts of trips can be found in the Ringhotels portfolio. Private, very personalized management, typical local ambience as well as excellent cuisine are the hallmarks of Ringhotels.The Ringhotels association was founded in 1973 and today incorporates about 130 member hotels in the four- and superior three-star categories in Germany. The ‘German Castles’ collection includes historical manor houses and castles. Professional conference hotels and family-friendly resorts, modern wellness oases and city hotels catering for all sorts of trips can be found in the Ringhotels portfolio. Private, very personalized management, typical local ambience as well as excellent cuisine are the hallmarks of Ringhotels.